Order : PRIMATES
Family : Cercopithecidae
Species : Macaca leonina

Head-body length : up to 58 cm
Tail length : up to 23 cm
Weight, male : 7-9 kg
Weight, female : 4-6 kg

The Northern Pig-tailed Macaque occurs in a range of forest habitats including primary, secondary and heavily disturbed forest.

Two species of Pig-tailed Macaque are recognised -  a northern and a southern species. Both species are easily distinguished from other macaques by the short tail. The northern species is most easily separated from the southern species by the presence of diagonal lines which extend upwards from the corner of each eye. Other separating features include a slightly shorter muzzle in the northern species.

This macaque feeds predominantly on fallen fruits and other foodstuffs on the forest floor, but will readily climb into the canopy to check for ripened fruits at its favoured trees.

In Southeast Asia the Northern Pig-tailed Macaque occurs in Myanmar, Thailand and all three countries of Indochina (Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia). Outside the region, its range extends westwards to Bangladesh and parts of northern India, and to southern China.

Fig 1 : Female at The Bayon temple, Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Fig 2 : A lone male strides purposefully along a main road passing through Khao Yai National Park, Thailand.

Figs 3 and 4 : The same male specimen foraging for ripe fruits in hill forest.


References :

Francis, C.M. 2019. A Field Guide to the Mammals of South-east Asia. Second Edition. New Holland. 416 pp.